Grain-elevator.



R. G. SCOTT. GRMN ELEVATOR. APPUCAHON FILED was. sans.

latvntvd Nuv. 12, 1918.

3 $HiTSSHEEl I uptown R. G. SCOTT.

GRAIN ELEVATOR.

Ai-PLICAHOM FILED AUG.3.!918

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

3 $HEETS-$HET 2.

4; mass"; runs 40 mm IKLHASMlhaIom a R. G. SCOTT. GRMN ELEVATOR. APPLICAHON FILED was. 19:

Patented Nov. '12, 1918.

3 SHEETS -5HEEI 3 J, I, a. T; 0 m 3 gimme/wk):

H, 860 ff 'inents in grain elevators,

"depressed by the weight of emails whereby power is transmitted to -operate the elevator as a result of the downward movement of the platform.

PATENT @ZQFFIGE.

gBALPH GUSCOTT, 0F 'MILLmrNEIBBASKAl snarnsnnnveron.

a To; on whom 'tmay' concern:

*Be itrknown thatI, RALPH'G. Score, a citizen of the United States, residing at -Miller, in the county efi Buifaloiand State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Elevators, of which the following is aspecificellion reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

@This invention relates to certain improveand it is an object ofithe invention to provide a device of this a general character having novel and improved means whereby the elevator is operated under the influence of;v the Weight of'a vehicle when, in a position to dump or dis charge intoa bin or hopper with which the elevator coasts.

Another obiect of my invention is to provide novel and improved means for operating an elevator which includes a platform snpported for swinging movement inn rertical direction and which is adapted to be a vehicle positioned upon the platform, together with %It is also'an object of my inventionto provide a device of this general character incleding: novel and improved nieans'wherebv an elevator is operated under the influence of a platform and adapted to be depressed under the influenceef a weight such as a vehicle, and wherein rneens are provided: for the-return of the platform to its npper or wrror rnel pesition when relieved of the weight iin 'gosedthereon. 7 V

n aditional objectef the invention is to -providea novel and improved device of this ,general character-wherein the elevator is operated through the medium of a downwardlv movable member or platform and wherein the elevator is caused to remain idle upon the upward movement of the memher or platform.

The invention consists in the details of construction and inthe combination and arrangement' of'the several parts of my improved grain elevator whereby certain imgortant advantages are attained and the evice renderedslmpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advanta- Specification of Letters Patent.

7 the sprocket 22;

' closed ihy 'P. The

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

hpplicatinnliiedilngnst 3, 1918. Seria11o.248,152,

geousfor use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention twill hereinafter be definitely claimed,

In order that my invention may he the better understood, I will now proceed to de- .scribe the same with reference to the accomted, of my improved device as herein dis closed Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the driving connection between the shaft 15 and and Fig.6 is a sectionallview tskensuhstan- V tially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings; P; denotes a portable body comprising a 7 pair of transverselv spaced runners 1, adapted to travel over the surface of the ground and said runners are maintained in predetermined spaced relation through the medimn of the crossed members or braces 2. Extending spwardlvfrom the crossed memher'or brace adjacent each end of the runhere 1 are the transversely spaced uprights 3 connected at their upper end by the trans versely disposed holster or timber Supported by the timber-st are the longitudinally-disposed sills 5 in predetermined spaced relation and to which is suitably secured the flooring F.

' H'The: intermediate portion of the flooring Fis opened and adapted to be normally the vertically swinging platform latform P comprises the longitu' dinaily isposed and transversely spaced sills 6 to which the fiooring'F is suitably secured and the rearward endportions of :the sills 6. areprovided with? the depending swln gin boxes 7 through which is disposed a sta tionary shaft or supporting member 8 held by the forward uprights 2 adjacent the top thereof. The boxes 7 are preferably of a type to contain hard oil or similar lubricant so that the desired swinging movement of the platform P may be obtained with a minimum of frictional resistance. It is also to be understood that when the platform P is at the limit of its upward movement, or in a horizontal position, the floor F is substantially flush with the floor F.

Engageable with the forward portion of the platform P or that end portion remote from the stationary shaft or supporting member 8 are the latches 10 suitably secured to the floor F or adjacent structure whereby the platform P is maintained in its normal or elevated position. hen it is desired to have the platform P swing downwardly, the latches 10 are disengaged from the platform P through the medium of the lever 11 or its equivalent.

Detachably engaged with the opposite ends of the floor F are the runways R which afford means whereby a vehicle loaded with grain or the like may be positioned upon the platform P and whereby said vehicle, after being unloaded, may be readily re turned to the ground. It is also to be understood that the platform P is of a length in excess of the length of the vehicle adapted to be positioned thereon and more particularly of a length greater than the wheel base of said vehicle.

Suitably supported by the runners 1 and the adjacent structure carried thereby and below the forward end portion of the floor F, is a bin or hopper H into which the contents of the vehicle are adapted to be dumped or discharged and in order to permit this operation, the portion of the floor F directly above the bin or hopper H is provided with an upwardly and forwardly door 12 which is adapted to be raised after the vehicle has been positioned upon the platform P.

Rotatably supported by the forward uprights 1 and preferably throu h the medium of the boxings 14, is a shat t 15 provided with a balance wheel 16 to facilitate its rotation. Fixed to the shaft 15 is an outwardly facing cupped member 17 havin its peripheral flange 19 overlying a ratcfiet wheel or gear 20 carried by the inner end portion of the hub 21 of the sprocket wheel 22. Arranged within the cupped member 17 are the pawls or dogs 23 which are constantly urged toward the ratchet wheel or gear 21 whereby it will be perceived that upon rotation of the sprocket wheel 22 in one direction the shaft 15 will be caused to rotate in unison therewith and in the same general direction and whereas upon rotation of the s rocket wheel 22 in the opposite directi n,

the shaft 15 remains idle. Contacting with the outer end of the hub 21 is a washer 24 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 15. The washer 24 and the cupped member 17 hold the sprocket 22 against movement longitudinally of the shaft 15. Secured to the forward or free end portion of the platform P at one side thereof is a sprocket chain 25 which passes over and meshes with the sprocket 22 and the chain 25 also passes over an idle sprocket 26 supported in advance of the shaft 15. The outer end of the chain 25 is secured to a weight 27, in suspension so that when the platform P is relieved of the weight of a vehicle or the like. the weight 26 will cause the platform P to return to its normal or substantially horizontal position. It will also be self-evldent that the weight of the vehicle or the like on the platform P will cause said platform to swing down- Wardly after the latches 10 have been disengaged from the platform. It is preferred that the latches 10 be constantly urged toward the platform P or more particularly the opening in the intermediate portion of the floor F so that when the platform is returned to its normal or substantially hort zontal position under the influence of the weight 26 the latches will automatically engage the platforni P to hold the same against depression until required.

E denotes an elevating mechanism comprising an endless carrier 27 disposed around the upper and lower rollers 28 carried by the frame structure 29. The lower roller 28 constitutes a driving element for the endless carrier 27 and said roller has an end portion provided with a gear 31 meshing with the gear 32 fixed to the lower end portion of a vertically disposed shaft 33. The upper end portion of the shaft 33 has fixed thereto a gear 34 meshing with a gear 35 carried by the shaft 15. By this means it will be perceived that as the shaft 15 is rotated by depression or downward swinging movement of the platform P, the endless carrier 27 of the elevating mechanism E will be caused to travel in a direction to carry upwardly or elevate the grain or the like deposited within the bin or hopper H.

Coacting with the shaft 15 is a brake mechanism of any desired type so that the operation of my improved mechanism may be readily controlled.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a grain elevator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a vertically movable platform, a shaft, an elevator, a driving connection between the shaft and the elevator, a sprocket Wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, a chain passing over the sprocket and having one end portion secured to the platform, the opposite end portion of the chain being anchored outwardly of the shaft, a weight suspended from the chain outwardly of the shaft, and a member keyed to the shaft and coacting with the sprocket to cause said sprocket to rotate in unison with the shaft upon downward movement of the platform.

2. A device of the class described comprising a vertically movable platform, a shaft, an elevator, a driving connection between the shaft and the elevator, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, a chain passing over the sprocket and having one end portion secured to the platform, the op posite end portion of the chain being anchored outwardly of the shaft, a weight suspended from the chain outwardly of the shaft, and a member keyed t0 the shaft and Copies 01 chic patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the coacting with the sprocket to cause said sprocket to rotate in unison with the shaft upon downward movement of the platform, said shaft remaining idle when the platform is elevated by the weight suspended from the chain.

3. A device of the class described comprising a vertically movable platform, a shaft, an elevator, a driving connection between the shaft and the elevator, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, a chain passing over the sprocket and having one end portion secured to the platform, the opposite end portion of the chain being anchorcd outwardly of the shaft, a weight suspended from the chain outwardly of the shaft, and a member keyed to the shaft, the hub portion of the sprocket being provided with a ratchet gear, a member keyed to the shaft adjacent the sprocket wheel, and a pawl carried by said member and engaging the ratchet gear for causing the sprocket wheel and shaft to rotate in unison upon downward movement of the platform.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH G. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

C. M. HOUSTGN, O. E. MILLHOUSE.

Comminsioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

